Student Advisory Board

Members of the Student Advisory Board for the academic year 2024/2025: 

Christine Cepelak is a second year MPP student focused on the ways digital technologies impact marginalized people. Before Hertie, she studied International Political Economy and worked as a program manager and technical contributor in US public and private sectors.

Francesca Jacke is a first year MIA student from South Africa and Mauritius. With a background in non-profit work, she is interested in social justice and human rights, especially in an intersectional approach with feminism and climate. Francesca is most looking forward to collaborating with the rest of the Student Advisory Board and the team at the center!

Joaquin Kapust a first year MIA student, focuses on EU climate policy with an emphasis on climate justice and a regional focus on Latin America and the Caribbean. A VU Amsterdam graduate with experience at GIZ and Global South NGOs, he aims to amplify marginalized voices, including indigenous communities, in climate policy.

Eman Atta Maan is a first year MPP student from Lahore, Pakistan. With a background in sustainability reporting and climate financing, she is interested in issues of climate justice and promoting an equitable global energy transition. Prior to Hertie, Eman earned a Bachelor of Science in International Politics and Government at Bocconi University.

Paul Mauersberg is a first year MIA student partaking in the Human Rights and Global Governance specialisation at Hertie and prior to Hertie he studied Globalization, Governance and Law wherein he adopted a critical approach to humanitarian intervention and international public law. He is interested in pluralist approaches to human rights and the academic discourse on normative changes within international law.

Moritz Niessen is pursuing his MIA with a focus on Human Rights, following an undergraduate degree in Sociology at the Universities of Potsdam and Paris Nanterre. With experience in NGOs, the Foreign Office and working for a Member of Parliament in Hamburg, he is currently involved with Hertie School’s Pride Network and very interested in queer and feminist human rights issues.

Ana Julia Pansani is a first year MPP student from Brazil. With a background in foreign and public policy, she has worked on projects focused on gender and modern slavery. Her interests lie in fostering gender equity through inclusive urban development, digital governance, and intersectional policies. Ana is also a member of the Hertie School Digital Verification Corps and contributes to The Governance Post podcast team.

Samuel Perez R. is a first year MPP student from Chile and Colombia. Before Hertie, he studied political science and worked in education and technology. Also, he is part of the Hertie Digital Verification Corps. He has a special interest in forced displacement and disappearance.

David Schäfer has completed his first year as a MIA student and is now doing his Professional Year at the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs working on AI, particularly in a non-profit context. Previously, he worked in journalism and academia.  

Eden Tadesse is a second year MPP student and an award-winning entrepreneur, digital innovator, journalist, and global citizen. She is the founder of Invicta, an impact startup that connects refugees with remote work, online courses, mental health support, and business development. Her professional experience spans across policy, gender equality, social innovation, education, economic development, human rights, and climate justice.